Chicharito: I do not aspire to be like Lionel Messi & just want to sweat my Manchester United shirt to death

Javier Hernandez, Manchester United

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Javier Hernandez has told journalists that he will “sweat his shirt to death” ahead of the Champions League final against Barcelona.

The Mexican international has scored 20 goals this season for the Old Trafford outfit and has been praised by both Lionel Messi and Pep Guardiola ahead of the fixture.

However, when asked whether he hoped to match the feats of the Argentinian attacker, the Manchester United forward replied modestly.

He said: “No. I am a player of this great team. I don’t aspire to be like Messi. I’m just a simple footballer.”

When questioned about whether his impressive goal tally was down to a fixation on scoring, the striker, Chicharito credited his team-mates for his success.

“What obsesses me is sweating this shirt to death, and I will never stop running,” he continued.

“I’m not obsessed with goals. The goals are the result of the work of the whole team. The forwards only have the good fortune to score them. In a team like ours, even Edwin van der Sar can claim the goals.”

Ahead of Saturday’s match, which Manchester United approach as clear underdogs, Hernandez was keen to point out the unpredictability of football and banish any memories the squad might have of their defeat in the 2009 final to the same opposition.

“We have to forget that,” he added.

“Barcelona is an extraordinary team that plays beautiful and eye-catching football. But we are not in the final for nothing.

“Football is the least predictable sport in the universe. There may be a very open game or a very close one.”